Qibla finder / United States
Qibla direction from Elgin, 48.2° northeast.
From Elgin, IL, face 48.2° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 11,174 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 51.9°.
- Distance to the Kaaba
- 11,174 km (6,943 miles)
- Magnetic compass bearing
- 51.9°
- Magnetic declination
- 3.7° west
- City centre
- 42.0373, -88.2812
How to face the qibla
Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 51.9°. That is 48.2° from true north, adjusted for the 3.7° west magnetic declination in Elgin. Or open the live compass on your phone.
Worked out for the centre of Elgin. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.
Guide
Why the qibla is northeast from Elgin.
The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From Elgin that path leaves heading northeast, at 48.2° from true north. Flat maps distort this route, so it can look wrong on a map even though it is the true direction.
A compass points to magnetic north, which in Elgin is 3.7° west of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 51.9°, differs from the true bearing.
Someone far from Makkah faces the direction (jihah) of the Kaaba. A small turn to the left or right does not affect the prayer, and a prayer made after a genuine effort stays valid even if you later learn you were slightly off.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The stronger view is to aim at the Kaaba itself by your best effort, even from far away.
- Maliki, Hanbali
- Facing the direction is enough, as in the Hanafi school.
Qibla from other cities in United States
| City | Qibla | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 58.5° | ENE |
| Houston, TX | 45.5° | NE |
| Chicago, IL | 48.7° | NE |
| Los Angeles, CA | 23.9° | NNE |
| Dallas, TX | 43.5° | NE |
| Philadelphia, PA | 57.7° | ENE |
| Minneapolis, MN | 43.8° | NE |
| Atlanta, GA | 52.3° | NE |
| Detroit, MI | 52.0° | NE |
| Dearborn, MI | 51.9° | NE |
| Washington, DC | 56.6° | ENE |
| Boston, MA | 60.4° | ENE |
| Seattle, WA | 17.6° | NNE |
| San Francisco, CA | 18.8° | NNE |
| San Jose, CA | 19.5° | NNE |
| San Diego, CA | 25.3° | NNE |
| Anaheim, CA | 24.2° | NNE |
| Sacramento, CA | 19.6° | NNE |
| Phoenix, AZ | 30.1° | NNE |
| Las Vegas, NV | 26.4° | NNE |
| Denver, CO | 35.0° | NE |
| Miami, FL | 56.6° | ENE |
| Orlando, FL | 55.3° | NE |
| Tampa, FL | 54.8° | NE |
| Charlotte, NC | 54.4° | NE |
| Raleigh, NC | 55.8° | NE |
| Columbus, OH | 52.3° | NE |
| Cleveland, OH | 53.1° | NE |
| Jersey City, NJ | 58.5° | ENE |
| Paterson, NJ | 58.4° | ENE |
| Baltimore, MD | 56.8° | ENE |
| Austin, TX | 43.5° | NE |
| San Antonio, TX | 43.2° | NE |
| Indianapolis, IN | 50.1° | NE |
| Nashville, TN | 50.2° | NE |
| St. Louis, MO | 47.2° | NE |
| Milwaukee, WI | 48.3° | NE |
| Brooklyn, NY | 58.5° | ENE |
| Buffalo, NY | 55.0° | NE |
| Fairfax, VA | 56.4° | ENE |
| Richmond, VA | 56.4° | ENE |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 28.5° | NNE |
| Anchorage, AK | 350.9° | N |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | 56.6° | ENE |
| Aurora, CO | 35.1° | NE |
| Troy, MI | 51.9° | NE |
| St. Cloud, MN | 43.0° | NE |
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Questions
Good to know.
What is the qibla direction from Elgin?
The qibla from Elgin, IL is 48.2° from true north, which is northeast. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 51.9°.
How far is Elgin from Makkah?
About 11,174 km (6,943 miles) in a straight line over the globe.
Why is the qibla northeast from Elgin?
The qibla follows the shortest route over the curved Earth to the Kaaba, called a great circle. On a flat map this route looks curved, so the direction can look different from what a map suggests.
How exact do I need to be?
In the Hanafi school, someone far from Makkah faces the general direction of the Kaaba. A small turn to either side does not affect the prayer. Do your best, or follow the direction of your local masjid.